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Fernie awarded grant for cycling infrastructure
The provincial government is providing a $71,000 Bike BC grant to assist with construction of a cycling bridge in Fernie.
The Fairy Creek Bicycle Bridge will be a 25-metre-long, two-metre-wide covered cyclist/pedestrian bridge connecting downtown Fernie to five residential and commercial neighbourhoods.
BikeBC is the provincial government’s cost-sharing program that helps local governments build cycling projects that attract and support commuter, recreational and tourism cyclists and pedestrians. The B.C. government is providing half of the project’s cost of $142,000.
“The Highway 3 bridge over Fairy Creek is so busy, it’s not safe for hikers or bikers and especially not for school children who have to walk and cycle on this busy highway,” Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett said. “This grant will not only strengthen the tourism infrastructure for Fernie, the new bridge will keep people safe.”
“The construction of a bicycle bridge over Fairy Creek will address a long-standing safety concern by allowing cyclists to access a popular trailhead without having to compete with traffic on our busy highway,” Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano said. “The City of Fernie is very grateful to Minister Bennett and the provincial government for this grant that will assist in making the Fairy Creek Bicycle Bridge a reality.”
Fernie Trails Alliance president Terry Nelson added, “As the Fernie area sees growth in both residential occupation and recreational participation, the need to provide a safe, convenient, non-motorized transportation route has become more of a necessity. A bridge has been contemplated at this location for more than 20 years, and the Fernie Trails Alliance thanks the B.C. government for its support in our efforts to make Fernie a more healthy and vibrant community.”
This project is part of B.C. on the Move, the B.C. government’s 10-year transportation plan.
B.C. on the Move has committed $18 million over the next three years to the BikeBC program. This year’s investment of $6 million will generate more than $12 million in cycling infrastructure across the province.
For more information about Bike BC, visit th.gov.bc.ca/BikeBC.
Lead image: Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, centre, presents a cheque for $71,000 to (from left): Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski, Fernie Trails Alliance president Terry Nelson, Fernie Trails Alliance director John Shaw and Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano.
